Dishwashing machine



Sept. 27, 1938. R-CH1CO ET AL 2,131,615

DI SHWASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Esrge Webb D/"H/y Patented Sept. 27, 1938 D-ISHWASHING MACHINE ltussell Chico, New York, N. Y., and George R. Porter and George Webb, West Hartford, Conn., assignors to Colts Patent Fire Arms, Manufacturing Co., Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application December 28, 1935, Serial No. 56,454

n 15 Claims.

The invention relates to article washing machines of the type wherein the articles to be washed are moved along a path through the machine and are successively moved through zones in which they are-subjected to the action of treating mediums. More particularly the invention relates to and may be advantageously applied to a dish washing machine of thetype wherein the dishes are placed in a suitable rack or carrier and are then passed. through a housing or casing'wherein they are subjected to the action.

of washing liquid and are then preferably acted upon by rinsing fluid just before they pass out of the casing. Automatic mechanism is provided in the casing for engaging the dish carriers to move them .through the zones of action of the washing liquid and the rinse jets.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide automatically operable means for moving the articles to be washed through .the effective zones of the diierent treating mediums at diierent speeds.

Another of the objects of the present invention is to provide meansior engaging the dish carrier to move it successively at two different speeds, and more specifically to move it relatively slowly while in the zone of action of the washing liquid and to thereafter move it relatively rapidly while in the zone of action of the rinse jets.

A` further object of the invention is vto provide for the dish carrier a driving means such as a pinion which is freely movable or rotatable in the direction of its normal movement, so that the carrier can be rapidly moved manually into assuredengageznent with the driving means and so that the carrier can be manually advanced at a speed greater than normal at any time while in the washing rzione.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with the other features referred to, a drive device which is adapted to yield in the event of excessive resistance tending to prevent carrier movement, this device thus preventing in jury to the driving mechanism in casemovement of the carrier is obstructed.'

Other objects of the inventionfwill be apparent from the following specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown the embodiment of the invention which .we now deem preferable, but it will be understood that the drawings are'intended for illustrative purposes only and are not to be relied upon' as limiting or defining the scope of the invention, the

claims forming a part of this specification being f relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a dish washing machine embodying the invention, a portion of the front side wall of the casing being broken away to show interior parts.

Fig. 2 is a right end view.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. l,

but showing the dish carrier ain a'diierent posi tion.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view'taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 1

- Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. 1

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the parts in different relative positions.

Fig. 'l is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 1--1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the -line 8-8 of Fig. '1.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 8, but showing the parts in different relative positions. Figs. l0 and 11 are fragmentary views similar to Fig. 4 but showing an alternative detail for the drive clutch at the .right hand end of the ma-y chine.

Except for the mechanism for moving the dish carriers, the washing machine is, or may be, of

any usual 'or suitablerconstruction, and a `very brief description will sufllce.

As shown, there is a main casing Iy which is generally rectangular in transverse section. The

casing'i is supported upon a suitable framework 2, which framework also carries a reservoir 3;

which communicates with the casing I at Ithe bottom thereof. Suitable screens .4, 4 are interposed between the casing. i and the reservoir 3. The casing l is providedatthe left end with'a supplyopening 5 and at the right end with a discharge opening E, these openings being of'suf,

flcient size `to-permit the passage ofa suitable dish carrier therethrough along a longitudinal path. For guiding the dish carrier through 'the casing from the supply opening, therein to the discharge opening, there are provided longitudinal guiding means such as rails 1, 1. For convenience in loading and unloading the dish car-- riers and in handling them, platforms or tablesv such as T, T are provided adjacent the ends oi' the machine and at the same level as the rails For use with the ymachine there vare f provided one or more disli carrierssuch as 8. 'The dish carriers are entirely separate from the dish washe ing machine proper. andv eachjof. them consists of a rectangular framework, which is ordinarily made of wood and which carries -transverse and longitudinal bars or rods which hold and support the dishes to be washed. The dish carriei 8 is preferably provided with at least one and preferably two longitudinal racks 9 9 adapted to be, engaged by pinions forming parts of the ma.

chine, as hereinafter described. The' details of the dish carrier do not constitute any part of the present invention, the said carrier being-described and claimed in the copending application of George Webb for Dish carrier for dish washing machine, Serial No. 56,455, :tiled December 28,l

For washing the dishes carried bythe carriers 9, there are provided suitable means for directing washing liquid against the dishes. the invention is not necessarily so limited the l lastsaid means preferably comprises jet devices rangement.

for forcibly directing jets or sprays of washing liquid against the dishes. the present invention, these jet devices may differ widely in' details of construction and ar- As shown, there are provided above the path of movement ofthe dish carrier three longitudinal' pipes I0, I 0 having downward directed jet orices therein. The pipes I Il, I'are served by a transverse manifold II and which in turn is connected with a vertical supply pipe I2 positioned at the front of the casing. Below the path of movement of the dish carrier are three longitudinal pipes I3, I3 having upwardv directed jet orifices. The 'pipes I3, I3 are served by a transverse manifold I4. The vertical supply pipe I2 and the manifold I4 are` connected b'y means of`suitable conduit members with a centrifugal 'pump I5 driven by an electric motor It The suction side of the pump I5 is connected at I1 with the reservoir s so that the washiiquid isl withdrawn from the reservoir by the pump and is delivered under pressure to the several wash pipes and thence directed downward and upward against the dishes.

Near the discharge end of the machine are rinse nozzles or jet devices for rinse water, there being shown three jet devices I9, I8 at lthe top and three jet devices I9, I9 at the bottom.' Rinse water is fed to the machine from an external source of supply througha pipe such as 20 having therein an automatically closing valve 2 I. A

valve operating member 22 is provided at one side of the machine in position to be engaged by each dish carrier 8 as it approaches the rinsing end of the casing. As the dish 'carrier moves forward, the member 22 is movedabout its lpivotal axis' at 23 toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 2.thus opening the valve 2i and permitting the rinse water to flow through the jet devices I3,- I8

and I9, I9. As soon as the dish carrier moves4 through the casing, that is along the guide rails 1, 1, and for moving it at apredetermined speed along that portion of said longitudinal path which lis within the washing zone. Associated with the aforesaid means Afor engaging and moving the carrier is a means'operatively dependent upon the position of the carrier for causing the movement of the carrier at 'an increased vspeed after it is beyond the washing'zone, that is, particularly when it is within the rinsing zone. The

While So far as concernsA automatic means for moving the carrier, first at predetermined normal speed through the washing zone and then at an increased speed beyond the washing zone and through the rinsing zone, may be widely varied as to mechanical construction but one construction which we have found satisfactory and which is shown in the drawings will now be described in detail.

As already stated, the dish carrier 8 is provided A with longitudinal racks 9, 9, and these racks are engaged by pinions which serye to move the dish carrier longitudinally through the casing. As

- shown in Figs. 1 and 2, there'lis a pair of pinions 24, 24 which are rotatable about a transverse which is engaged by a drive chain 29. Preferably vet wheel 33 -engaging the 'aforesaid chain 28.

By means of the mechanism described, the driv ing pinions 24, 24 are operated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. l so as to engage the racks on the dish carrier 8 and to thus move the dish carrier from left to right along the guide rails 1, 1.

In operating the machine. the dish carrier, after being filled with dishes, is pushed manually into the casing along the guide rails 1, 1' so as to bring the teeth of the racks on the carriers into engagement with the pinions 24, 24. Inorder .that the-racks may be easily and surely engaged withthe drive pinions, the saidpinions are pref- 1 erably so connected with their source of power that they can be readily or freely rotated in the forward directiomthat is, in thedirection of their :normal movement; Thus, the operator -in pushing the dish carrier into position can push it far enough to rotate the sprocket wheels 24, 24

forward and thus assure their complete engage- 'tation therewith is a housing 35 which surrounds the hub of the sprocket wheel 21 and also the ratchet wheel 34. Pivotally mounted on theradialV wall of the housing 35 isa spring pressed pawl 3 9 which normally engages one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 34, as shown in Fig. 5. Power is transmitted to the ratchet wheel 34 by means of the sprocket wheel 21 and the ratchet wheel, by reason of its engagement by the pawl' 36, serves to rotate the housing 35, .the shaft 2,5

and the drive pinions 24, 24. However, when the dish carrier with .its racks is moved into engage'- hment with the drive pliffons 24, 24, the pinions can b moved additionally in the forward direction, thus carrying the housing 35 and the pawl .3i to a forward posltionsuch as thatshown in Fig. 6. It will be apparent that continued movethereof to again engage the pawl 38 and thus restore the operative driving connection. In order that the dish carrier may be moved entirely through the machine .and not allowed to come to rest a'ft'er moving beyond therange of action of `the pinions 2.4, two additional pinions 31 are p rovided which are spaced apart to engage the racks 8. The pinions'81 are mounted onfa transverse shaft` 38 supported in bearings 38 secured to the guide rails 1. The pinions 31 may be driven in 'any suitable way, but preferably we utilizethe same chain 28 which is used for ,driving vthe pinions 24. To thisend'the shaft 38 is provided at its rear end with a sprocket wheel 4ll over which thesaid chain passes. The

longitudinal spacing between the pinions 24 and the pinions31 is less than the length of the racks 8 on the carrier so lthat the racks are engaged by the pinions 31 before they are disengaged by the pinions 24.

Preferably, the two sets of. pinions 24 and 31 are rotated atsuch speeds that a change in the Y speedof movement of the carrier is effected during its travel through the washing machine. In

the illustrated construction the carrieris moved -relatively slowly' while in the zone of action of the wash jet devices and relatively 'rapidly while in the zone of action of the rinse jet devices. When the pinions 24 and 31 are of the same size as is ,shown and as is preferred, the difference in speed of movement of the dish carrier is effected .by making the sprocket wheels 21 and 40 of different diameters. As shown, the sprocket wheel 40 is one-half the diameter of the sprocket wheel 21,'the result. being that the pinions 31 are rotated at twice the speed of' the pinions 24. It will therefore be apparent that the speed of the dish carrier is twice as fast when moved by the pinions 31 as it is when moved by the pinions 24. f

Inasmuch as the racks 9 on the dish carrier are engaged by the pinions 31 before they are disengaged by the pinions 24, it is evident that the slower moving pinions 24 would tend to preventthe rapid movement of the carrier by the pinions 31. Ho'wever, inasmuch as the pinions 24 are free to .move forward by reason of the over-running clutch, which hasA already been described, the

pinions have no tendency to-retard the movement of the carrier. P referably, in order to'protect the chain 28 and the sprocket wheels 21 and 40 from the action of the washing and rinse liquids, they are enclosed in a suitable housing 4I within the casing I. In order 't'o protect the driving mechanism from possible injury in the event of obstruction to the 'movement of one ofy the -dish carriers, the said driving mechanism includes a suitable slip-clutch. The details of the slip-clutch maybe widely varied within the scope-of the invention, but a construction that has b een foundsatisfactory is shown in detail in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. The sprocket A lwheel 33, instead of being rigidly mounted on the shaft 32, is carried by a two-part housing 42 .which is rotatable on the shaft 32. Positioned -within'the housing .'and. rigidly s ecured to the shaft 32 is a disc 43 having an axially extending projection 43a thereon. Pivotally mounted on the disc 43' at 44 isa rocker arm -45. .A spring 46 the', rocker arm tends to move the rocker arm 45 in the clockwise direction about its pivot, such movement being limited by the disc projection 43B. Carried by 4roller 48 is carried bythe outer wall of th housing 42. With the parts in their normal driving 2,181,615 Y A l. `ment of the ratchet wheel 34 will cause atooth l 45 is a roller 41 and a similar 42 and the sprocket-wheel 33. It will be evident, however, that the pressure-exerted by theroller 41 against the roller 48.can be no greater than the pressure exerted by the spring 46. When rotative movement of the sprocket wheel 33 is stoppedor retarded, as for instance by obstructing the movment'of the dish carrier, the spring 46 is compressed; thus permitting the roller 41 to move past the roller 48, which has" now become stationary or, substantially so. The shaft 32 and the parts carried thereby, including the rocker arm 45 and the roller 41, continue to rotate, but at each rotation the roller .41 is forced past the roller 48 until such time as the vobstruction is removed and the sprocket wheel 33is again' free to rotate.

The operation o`f the machine will be apparent position, as shownin Fig. 8, the roller 41 engages the roller 48 and power -is transmitted through -these rollers from the shaft l32 to the housing from the foregoing description. The dishes to be 'washed are loaded into the carriers 8, and the carriers are successively pushed into the machine 31, and these pinions move the carrier at a much higher speed through the z one of action of the saidl rinse jets. It will be understood that the rinse water is supplied 'from an external source and flows into-the reservoir 3 with the wash liquid and that it is thus, desirable to reduce the time of rinsing to as great an extent as is consistent with a thorough rinsing action. By providing the two speeds, as shown and described, we are able to move the carriers slowly through the washing .zone so as to give ample time for thorough washing, and to then move them quickly through the rinsing zone so as to conservethe rinse water and prevent unduedilution of the wash liquid.

The sprocket wheel 40 may be rigidly mounted on the shaft 38, but as an alternative it may be connected to the shaft by an over-running clutch similarin construction to that provided for'tl'ie this end a lock screw 49 may be provided as an alternative construction, as shown in4 Figs. 10 and 11. The lock screw 49 is provided only on the clutch which drives the sprocket 40.

The screw 48 is threaded into the side wall 'of "the housing 35, and when in its retracted position permits the pawl 36 to operate as already described.A An olf-center pin 58 enters a vgroove in the screw toprevent accidental removal thereof. When the screw 49 is advanced to the position shown in Fig. 11, its forward end overlies ythe pawl and locks it in engagement with `.are engaged by the more rapidly moving pinions means whereby it can be made inoperative. To

one of the teeth 3l. AIn this way the overrunning clutch is made inoperative.

In the drawings and in this specification we have shownand described a machine primarily adapted and -intended for washing dishes, but itA will be understood that this has'been done for convenience and deflniteness in disclosing the invention and that the invention is also well applicable to machines for washing or cleaning other articles as, for instance, metal parts requiring cleaning during or following manufacture.

What we claim is:

1.` The combination in a washing machine, of a casing having supply and` discharge openings and adapted to permit movement of articles to be cleansed along a path extending between said openings, means within ,the casing for dircting a cleansing medium against said articles during movement thereof along a portion of said path, means within the casing and spaced from the first said means for directing a. treating medium different from said cleansing medium against said' articles, and means for automatically moving the articles along said path and through the effective zone of said cleansing medium at a predetermined speed and through the effective zone of saidA other treating medium at a different speed and which said means is operatively dependent upon the position of the articles along said path for changing the speed Aof movement thereof.

2. The combination in `a washing machine, of

a casing having supply and discharge openings at opposite ends thereof and adapted to permit movement of articles to be cleansed along a path extending longitudinally therethrough,4 means within the casing for directing a-clanslng medium against said articles during movement thereof along a portion of said path, means within the casing and longitudinally spaced from the first said means for directing a treating medium different from .said cleansing medium against said articles, and means for continuously land automatically moving the articles along said` path and through the effective zone of said cleansing medium at a predetermined speed and through theeiective zone of said other treating medium at a different speed and which said means is operatively. dependent uponv the position of the articles along said path for changing the speed of movement thereof.

3. The combination in a washing machine for dishes and similar articles, of a casing having supply and discharge openings at opposite ends thereof and adapted to permitl the movement of a dish carrier along a path extending longitudinally therethrough, means within the casing for directing'.washing liquid-'against dishes in-the carrier during the movement thereof along a portion of the said path, means within the casing for directing rinsing water against dishes 'inthe carrier duringa subsequent portion of the movement of'thecarrier alongthe said' path, auto'- matic means within the casing for'engaging the within .the washing zone,- and automatic means associated with the said carrier engaging means,

andoperativelydependent upon theposition of the carrier for Vcausing the movement of the' carrier at anincreased speed after-it is beyond the washing zone and within the rinsing zone. 76

'4.- 'I'he combination in a washing machine, of

a casing having supply and discharge openings at opposite ends thereof and adapted to permit movement of articles to be cleansed along a path -extending .longitudinally therethrough, means withinthe casing forV directing a cleansing medium against said articles during movement thereof along a portion 'of said path, means within the casing and longitudinally spaced from' the first said means for dire'cting a treating medium different from said 'cleansing mediumA against said articles, propelling means for automatically moving the articles along a portion of said path and-through the effective zoneof said means within the casing fordirecting a-cle'ansing medium against said articles during movement thereof along a portion of said path, means within lthe casing and longitudinally spaced from the first said means for directing a treating medium different from said cleansing medium against said articles, and4 propelling means automatically operable for moving the ar'ticles'along a portion of said path and through the effective zone of said cleansing medium at a predetermined speed, another propelling means automatically operable for moving the 'articles along another portion of. said path and through the effective zonel of s'aid other treatingA medium at path extending longitudinally therethrough, f

a different speed, and a single power delivering 'ing the dish carrier through the effective zone of thefirst mentioned cleansing medium ata predetermined speed, a second toothed driving element for moving the dish carrier through the effective zone of said. other treating medium at a different speed, and means for simultaneously' actuating said toothed elements to cause their movement at different effective speeds.

v'1. The combination in a washing machine for dishes or similar articles, of a casing having supply and discharge openings at lopposite ends thereof, means in the casing for guiding longitudinally therethrough a dish carrier having a l longitudinal rack thereon, means in the casing between the ends thereof for directing washing.

liquid against dishes in the carrier, ldevices in the casing, near the discharge opening therein and longitudinally spacedfrom the -washing liq` Auid means for directing rinsing water against y dishes in the carrier, a toothed driving element for engaging the rack on the dish carrier tol move the said carrier through the, washing zone, a

second toothed driving element for subsequently engaging the rack on` the dish carrier to move the said lcarrier through` the rinsing zone, and means for simultaneously actuating the said toothed elementsV to cause their movement at different eiective speeds, the second said element having an effective' speed greater than that of the first said element.

.8. The combination in a washing machine for dishes or similar articles, of a casing having supply and discharge openings at opposite endsthereof, means in the casing for guiding longitudinally therethrough a dish carrier having a longitudinalrack thereon, means in the casing between the ends thereof for directing washing liq-A uid against dishes in the carrier, vdevices in the casing near the discharge opening therein and longitudinally spaced from the washing liquid means for directing rinsing water against dishes in the carrier, a rotatable pinion for engaging the first said element.

9. The combination in a washing machine for dishes or similar articles, of a casing having supply and discharge openings at opposite ends thereof, means in the casing for guiding longitudinally therethrough a dish carrier having a longitudinal rack thereon,- jet devices in the casing between the ends thereof for directing jets of washing liquid against dishes in the carrier, rinse jet devices in the casing near the discharge opening therein and longitudinally spaced from the wash jet devices, two pinions rotatable about transverse aires and positioned for engaging the rack on the dish carrier, the said pinions being longitudinally spaced apart by a distance less than the length of the rack on the carrier, means for driving one pinion at a speed to move the carrier relatively slowly while in the zone of action of the wash jet devices, and means for driving the other pinion at a speed to move the carrier relatively rapidly while in the zone of action of the rinse jet devices. b t

10. The combination in a'washing machine for dishes or similar articles, of a casing having supply and discharge openings at opposite ends thereof, means inthe casing for guiding longitudinally therethrough a dish carrier having two parallel transversely spaced longitudinal racks thereon, j etdevices in the casing between the ends thereof for directing jets of washing liquid against dishes in the carrier, rinse jet devices in.

the casing near the discharge opening therein and longitudinally spaced from, thev wash jet devices, a pair of pinions rotatable about a transverse axis adjacent the said wash jets and spaced transversely to engage the racks on the dish carrier, a second pair of pinions rotatable about a transverse axis near the discharge opening and spaced transversely to engage the racks on the dish carrier, and means for rotating the pinions at such speeds that the carrier is movedfat a higher speed when engaged by the pinions of the second pair.

1l. The 'combination in a washing machine for dishes or similar articles, of a main casing h'aving supply and discharge openings at opposite ends thereof, means in the casing for guiding'longitudinally therethrough a dish carrier having a longitudinal rack4 thereon, jet devices .in the cas-` ing between the ends thereof for directing jets of washing liquid against dishes in the carrier,

rinse jet devices. in the casingnear the discharge opening therein and longitudinally spaced -from the wash jet devices, two longitudinally spaced pinions rotatable about transverse 'axes and positioned lfor engagingfthe rack on the dish carrier, and means frdriving one pinion at'` a speed to move the 'carrier relatively slowly While in the zone of action of the wash jetdevices and for driving the other pinion 'at a speed to move the carrier relatively rapidly while in the zone of action of the rinse jet devices, the driving means including a slip-clutch adaptedrto yield inthe event of excessive resistance tending to prevent carrier movement.

12. In a washing machine for dishes or similar articles, the combination of a casing having supply and discharge openings at opposite ends thereof, means in the casing for guidinglongi'- tudinally therethrough a dish carrier having a longitudinal rack thereon, jet devices in thev casing between the ends thereof for directing jets 'of washing liquid against dishes in the carrier, rinse jet devices in the casing near the discharge opening therein and longitudinally spaced from the wash jet devices, two pinions rotatable about transverse axes and positioned for engagingV the y rack on the dish carrier, and means for driving the said pinions to move the carrier, the said driving means including two overrunning clutches connected respectively with the pinions and permitting each of them to be freely rotated in the direction of its normal movement.

13. In a washing machine for dishes or similar articles, the combination of a casing having supply and discharge openings at opposite ends thereof, means in the Acasing for guiding longitudinally' therethrough a dish carrier having a longitudinal rack thereon, jet devices in the casing between the ends thereof for directing jets of washing liquid against dishes in the carrier, rinse jet devices in the casing near the discharge opening therein and longitudinally spaced from the wash jet devices, two pinions rotatable about transverse axes and positioned for engagingthe rack on the dish carrier, the said pinions7being longitudinally spaced apart by a distance less than the `length of the rack on the carrier, and means for driving the said pinions to move the carrier, the said driving means including an over-running clutch permitting one pinion to be freely rotated independently of the'other in the direction of its normal movement.

14. In a washing machine for dishes or similar articles, the combination of a casing having supply and discharge openings at opp'osite ends thereof, means in the casing for guiding longitudinally rack thereon, jet devices -in the casing between the ends thereof for directing jets of Washing liquid against dishes in the carrier., rinse jet devices in the casing near the discharge opening therein and longitudinally spaced from the wash jet devices, two pinions rotatable about transverse axes and positioned for engaging the 'rack on the dish carrier, the said pinions being longitudinallyspaced apart by a distance less than the length of the rack on the carrier, means including an over-running 'clutch for driving or'ie` pinion at a speed to move the carrier. relatively slowly `while in the zone of action of the wash jet devices, and means for driving the other pinion at a speed to move the carrier relatively rapidly while in the zone of action of the rinse jet devices.

- therethrough a dish carrier having a longitudinal 15. In a washing machine for dishes or similar articles, the combination of ya casing having supply and` discharge openings at opposite ends thereof, means in the casing for guiding longitudinally therethrough a dish carrier having a longitudinal rack thereon, jet devices in the caslongitudinallv spaced apart byl a distance less than the length of the rack on the carrier, and means for driving the pinions at dinerent speeds,

the said means including a slip-clutch adapted to .yield in the event oi' an excessive resistance tending to prevent carrier movement and the said means also including an over-running clutch associated with the slower pinion and permitting the said pinion Vto be freely rotated in the direction of its normal movement.

RUSSELL CHICO.

GEORGE R. PORTER.

GEORGE WEBB. 

